In this Six on Saturday I showcase six highlights from my last week in horticulture, including growing dahlias from seed, results of more mulching, battles with weeds, and a fantastic trip to Kew. Continue reading Six on Saturday – February 17
In my first Six on Saturday I showcase six highlights from my last week in horticulture, including propagating from seeds and cuttings, a couple of fantastic winter plants and some back-breaking bouts of mulching. Continue reading Six on Saturday – February 10
I had the chance to harvest Ulluco, a root tuber from South America that comes in a range of varieties and bright colours. Let’s take a look at growing this unique crop. Continue reading All about Ulluco
I have been getting hands-on with the fashionable gardening trend of micro-leaves and they are not only tasty and nutritious but very easy to grow. Continue reading The world of micro-leaves
I got a reminder on Facebook this week that one year ago I had been embarking on the challenge of cutting a very prominent topiary bird at Hidcote. It was one of the birds that sat overlooking the bathing pool and a piece of topiary that tended to feature in the photos of most of the garden’s tens of thousands of visitors. I felt very … Continue reading Recollecting taxing topiary
As part of my new job I am coming into contact with unusual fruit and vegetables from around the world. In focus here is the South American crop known as Oca, or Oxalis tuberosa Continue reading A first experience of Oca
This time of year provides a fantastic opportunity to renovate the permanent beds in your kitchen garden or allotment to get them in best condition ready for the coming growing season. Continue reading Time to give permanent beds a service
Day two of Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) 2018 saw me attend my most inspiring talk of the conference, the chance to hear Perrine Herve-Gruyer of La Ferme du Bec Hellouin talk about using permaculture and bi-intensive methods to be highly productive farming on a small-scale. Continue reading Oxford Real Farming Conference – Part Two
The Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) 2018 was held in Oxford Town Hall on January 4th and 5th and brought together farmers, growers, conservationists and more (basically anyone interested in sustainability and organic food developments) under one massively ornate roof. Continue reading Oxford Real Farming Conference – Part One
As I have mentioned previously I recently embarked on a two week trip to Canada where I explored the gorgeous areas of Vancouver, Whistler and Banff National Park. We made sure to visit quite a few gardens while in Vancouver and Bloedel Conservatory was a real highlight. Continue reading Experiencing exotics under the Bloedel dome
Perennial Nerd 